LB&SCR Steam Locomotive Headcodes

The headcodes detailed on this page are those used by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway from 1917 to 1922. A white disc was shown during daylight hours, with a white lamp used during darkness, to designate the following routes:-
(N.B. All references to the"Through Line" refer to the "Quarry Line" and for "following pages" read "this page").

ENGINE HEAD CODES

The diagrams on the followowing pages show the Engine Head Boards to be carried by Day, and positions of the Lamps to be carried by Night, by all trains, Special and Ordinary, over the various sections of the Line.
The Board is of circular pattern, 15 inches in diameter, and painted white:-
White Disc

The Lamps show White Lights, and are carried by Night in the same positions as the Boards by Day.
In some cases it will be necessary to change Head Boards or Lamps during the journey, and Drivers must becareful to make the propoer changes. At Stations or Signal Boxes where a change of Engine Head Signals is necessary, a stoppage must be made for the purpose. Enginemen are prohibited from leaving the footplate to change Head Signals while their Engines are in motion.
Drivers are held responsible for the proper Head Boards and Lights being carried on their engines, but should they be in doubt as to what to carry, they must refer to the Traffic Staff in charge.

Royal Special Trains, and Special Trains conveying Distinguished Personages- The Head Boards and Lights for Royal Special Trains, and Special Trains conveying Distinguished Personages, are as under:-
Royal Special Trains Conveying His Majesty The King Or Her Majesty The Queen, Or Both - Engine will carry by day, two white boards, with a crown painted on them, one over each buffer.
By night, or in foggy weather, four white headlights, one over each buffer, one in centre of buffer beam, and one top of smoke-box.
Royal Special Trains Conveying His Royal Highness The Pribce Of Wakes - Engine will carry by day, three white boards, with the Prince of Wale's feathers painted on them, one over each buffer and one top of smoke-box.
By night, or in foggy weather, four white headlights, one over each buffer, one in centre of buffer beam, and one top of smoke-box.
Special Trains Conveying Distinguished Personages - Engine will carry by day, four head boards, one over each buffer, one top of smoke-box and one in centre of buffer beam.
By night, or in foggy weather, four white headlights, over each buffer, one in centre of buffer beam, and one top of smoke-box.

East London Line Trains - All Engines running over the East London Line during Daylight must carry a White Light on Buffer Beam while travelling between Surrey Docks and Shoreditch Stations. Through Trains to or from East London Line change Head Codes at New Cross. All Up Trains to give three whistles when passing Forest Hill.

West London Line Trains - Through Trains from the West London Line (other than for routes Nos. 28, 29, 33 and 45) change Head Codes at Clapham Junction. Up Trains for the West London LIne will carry No. 45 Head Codes and must give three whistles when passing Balham Junction.

Victoria, Battersea Wharf and Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings &c. (via Crystal Palace) - These Trains to carry Coulsdon and Smitham Downs Head Codes between Victoria &c. and East Croydon; other part of the journey, London Bridge Head Codes for the respective places.

Victoria, Battersea Wharf and Epsom Town, Dorking, Portsmouth, &c. (via Crystal Palace) - These Trains to carry Sutton via Crystal Palace and West Croydon Head Codes between Victoria &c. and Sutton, other part of journey Section 4.

Engines from Battersea Yard (via Incline Road) - Drivers of Engines from Battersea Yard to Victoria, via Incline Line, must carry on leading end of Engine, Victoria Head Boards or Lights, and on stopping at Battersea Park Junction reverse the position of the Boards or Lamps to the other end of those Engines.
Drivers proceeding via Incline Line to Clapham Junction or Stations beyond must carry on the leading end of their Engines, Head Boards or Lights according to Destination.


1	2	3	4	5	6
London Bridge, Willow Walk and Brighton (via Redhill)	London Bridge, Willow Walk and Brighton (via Through Line)	London Bridge and Brighton (via Streatham Spur and Through Line)	London Bridge, Willow Walk, West Croydon, Epsom, Dorking, Horsham and Portsmouth	London Bridge, Willow Walk, and Portsmouth (via Redhill and Three Bridges). Also Three Bridges and Portsmouth Including short trains between Ford Junction, Arundel, Pulbor'o and Horsham, also Horsham, Gatwick and Horley	London Bridge, Willow Walk and Portsmouth (via Through Line and Three Bridges)

7	8	9	10	11	12
London Bridge and Brighton (via Streatham Spur and Through Line)	London Bridge, Willow Walk and Hastings (via Redhill and Keymer LinePeckham Rye)	London Bridge, Willow Walk and Hastings (via Through Line and Keymer Line)	London Bridge, Willow Walk and Oxted	London Bridge and Coulsdon and S. Downs	London Bridge and Victoria Also London Bridge and Streatham Common (via Norwood Junction)

12a	13	14	15	16	17
London Bridge and London Bridge (via Norwood Junc and Streatham Common)	London Bridge and Victoria (via Crystal Palace)	London Bridge and Victoria (via South London Line)	London Bridge, Clapham Junction and Victoria (via Tulse Hill)	London Bridge and Crystal Palace (via Tulse Hill)	London Bridge and Streatham Common (via South London Line and Streatham Spur Line) Note - Trains via Norwood to carry Nº12

18	19	20	21	22	23
London Bridge and Wimbledon (via Upper Loop) Returning by Lower Loop	London Bridge and Wimbledon (via Lower Loop) Returning by Upper Loop	London Bridge and Epsom Downs (via West Croydon)	London Bridge and Epsom Downs (via Peckham Rye)	London Bridge or New Cross via Eardley Sidings	London Bridge, Willow Walk or New Cross to Norwood Juncion only (Down Relief Line at Norwood Junction)

24	25	26	27	28	29
London Bridge and New Cross (Down Side) Empties (via Blue Anchor or S Bermondsey Spur Line)	London Bridge and New Cross (Empties to Up Sidings at Bricklayer's Arms Junction)	London Bridge and New Cross Empties (via Old Kent Road)	Victoria, Battersea Yard and Brighton (via Balham Line and Redhil)	Victoria, Battersea Yard and Brighton Also Down Trains, Kensington or Lillie Bridge to Brighton. (via Balham Line and Through Line)	Victoria, Battersea Yard, Mitcham, Sutton, Epsom, Dorking, Horsham and Portsmouth Also Down Trains, Kensington or Lillie Bridge to same places

30	31	32	33	34	35
Victoria, Battersea Yard and Portsmouth (via Balham Line, Through Line and Three Bridges)	Victoria, Battersea Yard and Portsmouth (via Balham Line, Redhill and Three Bridges)	Victoria, Battersea Yard and Hastings (via Balham Line, Redhill and Keymer Line)	Victoria, Battersea Yard and Hastings (via Balham Line, Through Line, and Keymer Line) Also Down Trains Kensington or Lillie Bridge to Hastings	Victoria, Battersea Yard and Oxted (via Balham Line)	Victoria and Coulsdon and S Downs (via Balham Line)

36	37	38	39	40	41
Victoria, Battersea Yard and Coulsdon and S Downs (via Crystal Palace Station)	Victoria, Battersea Yard, West Croydon and Sutton (via Balham Line)	Victoria, Battersea Yard, West Croydon and Sutton (via Crystal Palace)	Victoria and Epsom Downs (via Mitcham Junction)	Victoria, Battersea Yard and Streatham Hill Also between Crystal Palace and Streatham Hill	Victoria or Battersea Yard and Eardley Sidings

42	43	44	45	46	47
Victoria and Battersea Yard (Empties) Also Engines via Battersea Park Junction or Stewart's Lane Junction	Victoria and Kensington (via Stewart's Lane)	Kensington, Lillie Bridge and Clapham Junction Also West London Trains to and from East Croydon (via Crystal Palace)	Kensington, Lillie Bridge and Norwood Junction (via Balham Line) Also Up Trains from any other part of the System to Lillie Bridge or Kensington	Shoreditch and New Cross)	Deptford Wharf and New Cross

48	49	50	51	52	53
Crystal Palace, East Croydon, West Croydon, Sutton &c. to Battersea Yard (Light Engines only)	Up Empties and Light Engines to New Cross From Peckham Rye and Stations below. (Via Old Kent Road Spur Line)	Sutton, Mitcham and Wimbledon	Sutton and Epsom Downs	Woodside and Selsdon Road	Brighton and Portsmpouth

54	55	56	57	58	59
Brighton and Horsham (via Shoreham	Brighton and Littlehampton direct	Brighton, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead via Horsted Keynes Also Up Trains from East Branch to East Grinstead Note - Down Trains East Grinstead or Horsted Keynes to East Branch carry Boards or Lights as per Section 8	Brighton and Hastings (direct from Polegate)	Brighton, Newhaven and Seaford	Brighton and Tunbridge Wells via Uckfield

60	61	62	63	64	65
Brighton and Hove via Preston Park. (Engines to turn)	Lewes and Seaford Up Trains, Seaford or Newhaven to London to carry same Boards or Lights as Trains from Hastings to London direct	Lewes to Eastbourne, also between Brighton and Eastbourne and Eastbourne and Hastings, via the Spur Line each way. Up Trains from Eastbourne to London to carry same Boards or Lights as Trains Hastings to London Direct	Haywards Heath, Worthing and Bognor (via Preston Park Spur Line), also Brighton and Bognor. (Down Trains only.) Up Trains to Brighton carry Portsmouth Head Codes.	Oxted and Tunbridge Wells	Oxted and Eridge

66	67	68	69	70	71
Oxted and East Grinstead, High Level	Oxted and East Grinstead, Low Level	Three Bridges and Eridge	Horsham and Littlehampton direct. Up Trains going beyond Horsham carry Portsmouth Head Codes according to route	Horsham and Bognor Up Trains going beyond Horsham carry Portsmouth Head Codes according to route	Ford and Littlehampton, Barnham Junction and Bognor

72	73
Portsmouth to Fratton (Light Engines) Note - Light Engines Fratton to Portsmouth carry the same Head Boards or Lights as they will on the Trains they are going to work	Break Down Tool Van Trains On Outward Journey only. On return journey boards or lights must be carried according to route.

SINGLE LINES

74	75	76	77	78	79
*Deptford Wharf and Old Kent Road, West Croydon and Wimbledon, Brighton and Kemp Town, Pulborough and Chichester** via Midhurst. *Goods Trains between Norwood Junction, Waddon Marsh and Mitcham Junction carry the board or light on centre of buffer beam	Brighton and the Dyke, Havant and Hayling Island, Tunbridge Wells L.B.&S.C. and Tunbridge Wells S.E.&C.R. (Carrying Train Staff) Note - When carrying Train Ticket and additional board or light must be carried on nearside end of buffer beam	Three Bridges and Tunbridge Wells	Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne	Brighton and East Grinstead (via Lewes)	Horsham and Guildford (Carrying Train Staff between Horsham and Baynards or Electric Staff between Baynards and Guildford) Note - When carrying Train Ticket between Horsham and Baynards an additional board or light must be carried on off side end of buffer beam


Through G.W. Co's Trains to G.W.R:-	Through L.B.& S.C. Co's Trains to G.W.R:-	Through L.B.& S.C. Co's Trains to L.& N.W.R:-

45a	45b	45c
Down Trains will carry Nos. 44 or 45 as at present

GREAT NORTHERN TRAINS

Tulse Hill and Norwood Junction, via Crystal Palace
By Day: - Two white Boards, one top of Smoke Box and one centre of Buffer Beam
By Night: - Two white Lights, one top of Smoke Box and one centre of Buffer Beam

Factory Junction and Clapham Junction (L. & S.W.)
By Day: - Three white Discs, one top of Smoke Box and two off-side of Buffer Beam
By Night: - Three white Lights, one top of Smoke Box and two off-side of Buffer Beam

Factory Junction and Brentford (L. & S.W.)
By Day: - Three white Discs, one top of Smoke Box and two off-side of Buffer Beam
By Night: - Three white Lights, one top of Smoke Box and two off-side of Buffer Beam

Tulse Hill and Streatham Common
By Day: - Two Discs of Buffer Beam, White Disc on top, White Disc with Black Rim and Black Bull's eye beneath
By Night: - Threee Lights, two off-side of Buffer Beam, Blue Light on top, White Light beneath and one white light near side of Buffer Beam

HEAD-BOARDS AND LIGHTS OF FOREIGN COMPANIES' TRAINS WORKING OVER
JOINT LINES, OR CERTAIN PORTIONS OF L.B. & S.C. Rly

GREAT EASTERN TRAINS

Liverpool Street and Whitechapel Sidings to New Cross (L.B. & S.C.) and New Cross (L.B. & S.C. or G.E. Depot) to Liverpool Street
By Day - Two Boards, One Green with White rim on top of Smoke Box, and one Green with White rim centre of Buffer Beam
By Night - Two Lamps. One Green Light on top of Smoke Box and one Green Light centre of Buffer Beam

Liverpool Street and Whitechapel Sidings to New Cross (G.E.) Depot
By Day: - Two Boards, One Green with White rim on top of Smoke Box, and one White Board in centre of Buffer Beam
By Night - Two Lamps. One Green Light on top of Smoke Box and one White Light centre of Buffer Beam

New Cross (L.B. & S.C. or G,E. Depot) to Whitechapel Sidings
By Day - Two Boards, One Green with White rim at each end of Buffer Beam
By Night - Two Lamps. One Green Light at each end of Buffer Beam
Note. - All engines running over the East London Line during daylight must carry a white light on the buffer beam while travelling between Shoreditch and Surrey Docks Stations

GREAT NORTHERN TRAINS

Stewart's Lane Junction and Battersea Yard
By Day: - Two White Discs on right hand Buffer, one above the other
By Night: - Two White Lights on right hand Buffer, one above the other

GREAT WESTERN TRAINS

Battersea and Victoria
	Passenger Trains ..	By Day: - One unlighted lamp at foot of chimney
		By Night: - One white light at foot of chimney
	Goods Trains ..	By Day: - One White Diamond on centre of Buffer Beam, and one White Diamond over left hand Buffer
		By Night: - White Lights in same position as by day
Battersea and Southall
	Passenger Trains ..	By Day: - One White Diamond painted on a Lamp under Chimney
		By Night: - One White Light under Chimney

ISLE OF WIGHT TRAINS

Ryde St Johns and Ryde Pier Head
By Day: - Green Disc Centre of Smoke Box
By Night: - Green Light Centre of Smoke Box

ISLE OF WIGHT CENTRAL TRAINS

Ryde St Johns and Ryde Pier Head
By Day: - Unlighted Lamp off side end of Buffer Beam
By Night: - White Light off side end of Buffer Beam

LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN TRAINS

Willesden and Victoria
      By Day: - Destination Board in front, and one White Diamond-shaped Board at foot of Chimney
      By Night: - One White Light at foot of Chimney
      Rail Motors: - When engine in front, same as passenger trains; when motor coach in front, by day Head Lamp on near side over Buffer; by night, White Light on near side over Buffer

Willesden and East Croydon Local
By Day: - One White Diamond-shaped Board at right hand side of Chimney and Destination Board in front
By Night: - One White Light at foot of Chimney, and one White Light over left Buffer

Goods Trains, Willesden and Clapham Junction (Falcon Lane)
By Day: - No Board Diamond-shaped Board at right hand side of Chimney and Destination Board in front
By Night: - One White Light each end of Buffer Beam and one White Light centre of Buffer Beam

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN TRAINS

Stewart's Lane Junction and Battersea Yard
By Day: - One White Round Board on top of Smoke Box, one White Round Board in centre of Buffer Beam
By Night: - One White Light on top of Smoke Box, and White Light on near side of Smoke Box

* Portsmouth Harbour to Fratton (Light Engines)
      By Day: - Diamond on top of Smoke Box and White Round Board on near side of Smoke Box
      By Night: - Green Light on top of Smoke Box, one White Light in centre of Buffer Beam
      * Light Engines Fratton to Portsmouth carry same Head Boards or Lights as the Trains they are going to work

Portsmouth Harbour and Cosham
      By Day: - A White Round Board off side of Smoke Box and a Diamond centre of Buffer Beam
      By Night: - White Light off side of Smoke Box and Green Light centre of Buffer Beam
also       By Day: - Round White Board off side of Smoke Box and White Round Board near side of Smoke Box
      By Night: - White Light off side of Smoke Box and White Light near side of Smoke Box
also       By Day: - A White Round Board top of Smoke Box and White Round Board centre of Buffer Beam
      By Night: - White Light top of Smoke Box and White Light centre of Buffer Beam

Portsmouth Harbour and Havant
By Day: - One White Round Board near side of Smoke Box and a Diamond off side of Smoke Box
By Night: - One White Light near side of Smoke Box and one Green Light off side of Smoke Box

Havant and Cosham
By Day: - One White Board on near side of Smoke Box
By Night: - One White Light on near side of Smoke Box

Leatherhead and Epsom
By Day: - One White Board top of Smoke Box and one White Board on near side of Smoke Box
By Night: - Two White Lights in same positions as Boards by Day

Wimbledon and Tulse Hill
      By Day: - (via Merton Abbey) - One Round White Board on top of Smoke Box, and one Diamond centre of Buffer Beam
      By Night: - One White Light on top of Smoke Box, and one Green Light centre of Buffer Beam
      By Day: - (via Haydons Road) - Three White Round Boards, one each side of Smoke Box, and one centre of Buffer Beam
      By Night: - Three White Lights, one each side of Smoke Box, and one centre of Buffer Beam

METROPOLITAN TRAINS

New Cross to Hammersmith
One White Light near side end of Buffer Beam, and one Purple Light off side end of Buffer Beam and one White Light above on off side

New Cross to Shoreditch
Two Purple Lights, one each end of Buffer Beam

To New Cross
One Purple Light near side end of Buffer Beam, one White Light off side end of Buffer Beam, and one White Light in the centre above them

MIDLAND TRAINS

Stewart's Lane Junction and Battersea Yard
By Day: - One Round White Board each end of Buffer Beam

SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM TRAINS

London and Bricklayers' Arms Branch
By Day: - One Square Board White, centre of Buffer Beam

London and Redhill
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam

London and Caterham or Chipstead Lines
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam

Purley and Tadworth (Local)
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam

Purley and Caterham (Local)
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam

London, Oxted and Crowhurst Junction (via Croydon)
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam

London, Oxted and Crowhurst Junction (via Mid Kent)
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam

Victoria, Stewarts Lane and Clapham Junction (L. & S.W.)
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross each end of Buffer Beam

Clapham Junction (L. & S.W.) and Holborn
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross near side end of Buffer Beam

Norwood and Beckenham
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam

Crystal Palace and Beckenham
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board off side end of Buffer Beam

Tunbridge Wells (L.B amp; S.C) and Tunbridge Wells (S.E. & C.)
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam

Bopeep Junction and Hastings
Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board near side end of Buffer Beam
also Day Ordinary: - One Round White Board with Black Cross top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board with Black Cross off side end of Buffer Beam

Royal Special
By Day: - One Round White Board top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board each end of Buffer Beam

Breakdown Van Special
By Day: - One Round White Board with Black Cross top of Smoke Box and one Round White Board with Black Cross each end of Buffer Beam

Notes
	By nights: - White Lights are carried in the White Board position, and Green Lights in the Black Cross Board positions
	Special trains (except between London and Bricklayers' Branch) carry in addition to above Codes a lamp in the centre of Buffer Beam unlighted by day, and a White Light in same position by night.

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This page was created 3 June 2020